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After the park’s funds were exhausted Arant maintained his camp at the head of Anna Creek. This base camp soon became known as Camp Arant. From the camp Arant “took care of the Government property, visited camps of camping parties in the park, prevented trespasses and violations of the rules, etc.” On October 5 he moved his office to his ranch in the vicinity of Klamath Falls, after which he had “a man at the ranch nearest the park, patrolling in the park for the protection of the property and maintenance of the rules.”

In his annual report for 1903 Arant observed that five permits had been granted for driving some 4,000 head of stock through the park. Stockmen were interested in using the park road since it was the only thoroughfare through the Cascades in the region. The permits included:

E.E. Sherwood for cattle to be driven to Klamath Marsh, fifty miles east of the park.
E.R. Hannon for cattle to be driven to Wood River Valley, ten miles south of the park.
Pelton brothers for cattle to Wood River Valley, twelve miles south of the park.
Al Melhase, one permit for 2,000 sheep to summer range in Cascade Forest Reserve and one permit for returning them to winter quarters in Wood River Valley, twelve miles south of the park.

Arant reported that the 1903 tourist season at Crater Lake extended from July 10 to October 1. Some people, however, continued to visit the park after October 1.

As part of his annual report Arant submitted a list of improvements that he considered necessary “to the best interests and management of the park.” These improvements, which would “add very materially to the attractiveness and convenience and better management of the park,” required that an appropriation of $6,695 be made for the park in fiscal year 1905. The list of such projects read:

In his annual report for 1904 Arant observed that he continued to maintain a patrol in the park from mid-October to November 18, 1903, for the protection of government property and enforcement of park regulations. On the latter date the snow became so deep “that any kind of travel or existence in the park was entirely impracticable.” After closing the work for the season Arant continued to make occasional trips “to and in the vicinity of the park” during the winter months. On June 1, 1904, the snow was solid enough to walk on so Arant made a trip “from the south line to the central portion of the park.” He found the snow depths to be between four to twelve feet along the roads and approximately fifteen to eighteen feet at the lake and in the higher elevations.

On July 6, the snow having receded from the lower lands of the park, Arant established his “usual first camping place at Bridge Creek Springs, on the south slope of the mountain.” With five men and two teams he began improvements on the road from the south line of the park to the head of Anna Creek as well as on the road at Whitehorse that led from western Oregon to Crater Lake.

From mid-August until the end of October Arant supervised construction of the new road to the lake, using eight men and two teams. By the close of the working season the road had been completed to within one mile of the lake. Ten bridges, ranging in length from 16 to 104 feet, were built across the streams that descended from the springs at the base of Crater Lake Mountain.

At the beginning of the 1904 summer season Arant found all park property, including tools, implements, lumber, and the boat “to be in a good state of preservation and ready for use.” It was Arant’s belief that this was the first time a boat had survived a winter at Crater Lake, although the boathouse, except for the foundation, had been swept away.